Sunday, May 21, 2006
AAhhhhh at last the skies have cleared and the sun makes for a welcome return, plus it's Sunday! Lovely!!
Now, standing in a muddy field wearing a wide brimmed hat and ribbons might not be everyones idea of fun, but today is the villages Rice Planting Festival where people will be doing just that.
Last Year Nicky and I had a go at learning the drumming that accompanies the planting but the drumming part is okay its the stick twirling , body swerving manouvers that go with it that are hard to master.
My role today is strictly observer / Bobbi holder / beer drinker..its been a long stressful week and thats all I can handle.
Afterwards we're going to have a small barbecue by the river at the request of our students though I dont like the way its suddenly become 'Jon and Nickys barbecue' with all the preparation/ responsibilities that go with it...Oh well...
Some friends from the city are coming out as well so it should be an interesting and fun day...
Sorry bout the lack of pictures lately...not much to show really at the mo', though our new 'realaxation space' complete with chairs, table, and hammock that we made in the forest last week, and Nickys marvelous new bathroom mirror (It always amazes me what a complete creative dynamo she is) Oh and the new potatoes and beans growing area..plus pics from today...just have to get them all uploaded...
So keep watching this space!!
ps On a more serious note I presume a lot of you have heard about Richard and his wife from El Barco and the police raid...
Now a Saturday night at El Barco's is not really my thing, but Richard is a lovely guy so lets sign that petition and try to help him out....50 police for a license problem, japanese let go while all the foreigners get their papers checked,...no dancing in clubs!!!......this is wrong, really wrong....
Now, standing in a muddy field wearing a wide brimmed hat and ribbons might not be everyones idea of fun, but today is the villages Rice Planting Festival where people will be doing just that.
Last Year Nicky and I had a go at learning the drumming that accompanies the planting but the drumming part is okay its the stick twirling , body swerving manouvers that go with it that are hard to master.
My role today is strictly observer / Bobbi holder / beer drinker..its been a long stressful week and thats all I can handle.
Afterwards we're going to have a small barbecue by the river at the request of our students though I dont like the way its suddenly become 'Jon and Nickys barbecue' with all the preparation/ responsibilities that go with it...Oh well...
Some friends from the city are coming out as well so it should be an interesting and fun day...
Sorry bout the lack of pictures lately...not much to show really at the mo', though our new 'realaxation space' complete with chairs, table, and hammock that we made in the forest last week, and Nickys marvelous new bathroom mirror (It always amazes me what a complete creative dynamo she is) Oh and the new potatoes and beans growing area..plus pics from today...just have to get them all uploaded...
So keep watching this space!!
ps On a more serious note I presume a lot of you have heard about Richard and his wife from El Barco and the police raid...
Now a Saturday night at El Barco's is not really my thing, but Richard is a lovely guy so lets sign that petition and try to help him out....50 police for a license problem, japanese let go while all the foreigners get their papers checked,...no dancing in clubs!!!......this is wrong, really wrong....
Thursday, May 18, 2006
My favoruite time of the year has always been May; blue skies, hot, but not too hot, long hours of daylight, flowers in bloom etc etc....Well this year the same as last has been decidedly crappy, Now it always annoys me when after day after day of endless rain someone tells you that it will soon be rainy season...please explain the difference!!!
When I left England one of the things that I was quite pleased to leave behind was the weather. It is drilled into you from birth that Englands `Green and Pleasant Land` is due to one thing RAIN! How many childhood holiday memories, are of sitting in the car watching the rain on the beach. In fact alot people in England believe that we have the worst weather in the world, this is constantly reinforced when meeting people from other countries...Youre from England? yes I went there once, it rained solidly for three days etc etc. Sooo I was quite happy to be leaving for what I thought would be warmer, sunnier climes....
Indeed when I 1st landed in Japan at the height of summer it was blazing, sweat inducing, hot, hot hot...At last!...weeks and weeks of sunshine followed that day...a summer a real summer!!
Sine that initial year I must say my feelings toward the Japnese climate has changed quite a lot.
Out of the years Ive been here that 1st year and another two years ago had great weather, good going out, make plans, sit in the park, drink beer, go to the beach, weather....otherwise japan seems to be following the English model of rain all the time, anytime...Though in England WE KNOW it rains all the time and dont pretend otherwise here..No this isnt rainy season its just rainy everyday!
In my wise farmer mode i can surmise that the climate here like everywhere is changing and (shock/ horror) the traditional japanese seasons now mean very little, so when you`re next told that Hanami starts at 1:37 next thursday or swimming season begins on the 4th of July at 3:31 am just smile, lie back, and think of England
When I left England one of the things that I was quite pleased to leave behind was the weather. It is drilled into you from birth that Englands `Green and Pleasant Land` is due to one thing RAIN! How many childhood holiday memories, are of sitting in the car watching the rain on the beach. In fact alot people in England believe that we have the worst weather in the world, this is constantly reinforced when meeting people from other countries...Youre from England? yes I went there once, it rained solidly for three days etc etc. Sooo I was quite happy to be leaving for what I thought would be warmer, sunnier climes....
Indeed when I 1st landed in Japan at the height of summer it was blazing, sweat inducing, hot, hot hot...At last!...weeks and weeks of sunshine followed that day...a summer a real summer!!
Sine that initial year I must say my feelings toward the Japnese climate has changed quite a lot.
Out of the years Ive been here that 1st year and another two years ago had great weather, good going out, make plans, sit in the park, drink beer, go to the beach, weather....otherwise japan seems to be following the English model of rain all the time, anytime...Though in England WE KNOW it rains all the time and dont pretend otherwise here..No this isnt rainy season its just rainy everyday!
In my wise farmer mode i can surmise that the climate here like everywhere is changing and (shock/ horror) the traditional japanese seasons now mean very little, so when you`re next told that Hanami starts at 1:37 next thursday or swimming season begins on the 4th of July at 3:31 am just smile, lie back, and think of England
